The Los Angeles Chargers plan to have quarterback Justin Herbert play the first series in their preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, then the backup players will finish the game. Herbert is eager to get some real playing time as the team prepares for the 2026 season, and the new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, looks forward to seeing Herbert in action under the new system.
Key Facts
Justin Herbert did not play in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
Herbert is expected to play only the opening series in the upcoming game versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said the starters will play just one series before backups take over.
Herbert is excited to play again after not playing in an official game for some time.
Mike McDaniel is the new offensive coordinator for the Chargers.
McDaniel said seeing Herbert play in a live game helps both the player and coach adjust to the new system.
The game is part of the Chargers’ preparation for the 2026 regular season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tyler Shough, the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback, showed promise in his rookie season with a high completion rate on short and medium throws. However, he struggled with long passes and taking pressure plays, and this upcoming season will be important for his future as the team's leader.
Key Facts
Shough became the Saints' starting quarterback midway through last season.
He completed 69.2% of his passes as a starter, the best rate for a rookie in Saints history.
His completion rate for throws over 20 yards was only 26%, the lowest in the NFL.
Shough had the second-worst pressure-to-sack ratio in the league.
The Saints aim to become a playoff contender but need Shough to improve.
The team has added more talent around Shough to support him.
The 2026 season is seen as a crucial test for Shough’s development.
Shough needs to improve his long throws and reduce negative plays that hurt the offense.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, has not met the high expectations set for him in his first two NFL seasons. As he approaches the 2026 season, there is increasing pressure for him to improve his performance and prove his value to the team.
Key Facts
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Over the past two seasons, he has caught 103 of 189 passes thrown to him, ranking 42nd out of 43 players targeted at least 180 times.
Other Cardinals players like Trey McBride and Michael Wilson have gained more offensive prominence, moving ahead of Harrison.
Questions exist about the influence of the Cardinals’ offense and quarterback Kyler Murray on Harrison’s performance.
Sports analysts see the 2026 season as pivotal for Harrison’s career trajectory.
A strong 2026 season could help Harrison meet expectations and improve his future contract opportunities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Puka Nacua, a top wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, has been very productive on the football field but faced several off-field issues in the past year. He entered rehab to improve his behavior and is preparing for an important season under his rookie contract without a new deal yet.
Key Facts
Puka Nacua is one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers, leading the league with 107.2 receiving yards per game last season.
His career average of 95.3 receiving yards per game is on track to be the best in NFL history.
He had off-field issues, including entering rehab to improve his behavior.
Nacua denied allegations related to a lawsuit filed against him.
He suffered a facial injury from running into a window but has been able to participate fully in training camp.
Nacua is in the final year of his rookie contract without a contract extension.
A strong upcoming season is important for his future contract and career.
Off-field struggles could create challenges if they continue during this season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels and North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack college basketball teams will play a new neutral-site game called the Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, North Carolina. This game will happen over the next two seasons and is separate from their usual conference schedule.
Key Facts
Last season, UNC and NC State played only one regular-season basketball game, the first time since 1919 with so few matchups.
Due to changes in their conference's schedule, they were originally set to play just once this upcoming season in Chapel Hill.
The new Tobacco Road Classic will be held at a neutral location in Greensboro.
This game is considered a non-conference matchup.
The next Tobacco Road Classic game will take place on December 15.
Both teams have new head coaches: Justin Gainey for NC State and Michael Malone for UNC.
Coach Malone comes from the NBA and is new to college basketball rivalries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The New York Jets had a very poor season in 2025, finishing with a 3-14 record and the worst point difference in the NFL. Former team coaches criticized head coach Aaron Glenn’s leadership and the team’s overall performance, though some acknowledged the difficult situation he inherited.
Key Facts
The Jets finished the 2025 season with 3 wins and 14 losses.
They had the worst point differential in the NFL at minus 203. Point differential means the difference between points scored and points allowed.
The Jets did not make the playoffs for the 15th year in a row.
The team started the season with seven straight losses.
They scored the fourth-fewest points and allowed the second-most points in the league.
The Jets became the first NFL team to complete a season without any interceptions (catching the ball from the opposing team).
Some coaches criticized Aaron Glenn for being distant with the media and for coaching decisions like benching their quarterback.
Other coaches defended Glenn, saying he took over a team with many problems and tough decisions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
English footballer Harry Kane won the European Golden Shoe award for the second time. He scored more goals than other top players like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Key Facts
Harry Kane is an English football player.
He currently plays as a striker for Bayern Munich.
Kane won the European Golden Shoe award twice in his career.
The Golden Shoe is given to the top goalscorer in European leagues.
Kane scored more goals than Erling Haaland from Manchester City.
Kylian Mbappe, who won the World Cup Golden Boot, was also a competitor.
The award recognizes the best goalscorer across European football leagues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Dallas Wings announced that Azzi Fudd will miss the rest of the WNBA season due to knee surgery. Fudd, the team's top draft pick, has been sidelined with soreness and will not return this year, impacting the team's chances in the playoffs.
Key Facts
Azzi Fudd will have arthroscopic surgery to treat right knee soreness and miss the rest of the season.
Fudd was the Dallas Wings' first overall pick in the April draft.
In her rookie season, she averaged 13.1 points, 1.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
Fudd made history as the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-point contest.
She last played on August 5, scoring nine points with three assists and three steals.
The Wings currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot with a 20-16 record.
Dallas has lost 7 of their last 10 games and is on a two-game losing streak.
Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale remain the team's top scorers after Fudd’s injury.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren left practice with a groin injury and was seen limping with trainers. Warren had a strong rookie season and earned Pro-Bowl honors.
Key Facts
Tyler Warren is a second-year tight end for the Indianapolis Colts.
He left practice on Wednesday due to an apparent groin injury.
Warren returned to the sideline without a helmet but still in uniform.
He was the Colts’ No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
In his rookie year, Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and 4 touchdowns.
He also scored one rushing touchdown in goal-line situations.
The Colts signed veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen on the same day.
The Colts will play the Atlanta Falcons in their next preseason game on Saturday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders, led the team to the NFC Championship Game in 2024 but the team had a poor performance in 2025, winning only 5 games. For the 2026 season, Quinn made major coaching changes and has two new coordinators while hoping that quarterback Jayden Daniels’ strong training camp will help the team improve.
Key Facts
In 2024, the Washington Commanders finished with a 12-5 record and reached the NFC Championship Game.
In 2025, the team’s performance dropped to 5-12.
Coach Dan Quinn fired both the offensive and defensive coordinators after last season.
The new offensive coordinator is David Blough, who recently was a practice squad player.
The new defensive coordinator is Daronte Jones, leading a defense with many new players.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels showed promising skills during training camp in 2026.
Quinn faces pressure to reverse the team’s recent struggles and return to winning ways.
The team has made big changes on coaching staff and defense to improve this season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tua Tagovailoa is competing to be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2026 season. He had a weak performance in his first preseason game, which raises questions about his role, especially since Michael Penix Jr. has not been fully active in team drills.
Key Facts
Tua Tagovailoa is currently seen as the early favorite to start as the Falcons' quarterback in 2026.
Michael Penix Jr. has not been participating fully in team practice, giving Tagovailoa more opportunity to lead.
Tagovailoa’s first preseason game performance was seen as disappointing by analysts and by Tagovailoa himself.
The quarterback competition is tight because Penix Jr. is still considered a strong contender.
Tagovailoa said his own preseason performance was "definitely not up to standard."
The Falcons want Tagovailoa to prove he can be their main quarterback this season.
Penix Jr.'s return to full participation could increase the competition.
The 2026 season will be important for Tagovailoa to secure his position as the Falcons’ quarterback.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Bryce Young, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, is entering the 2026 season with pressure to perform better. The Panthers extended his contract for a fifth year, giving them a low-risk chance to see if he can become their long-term starting quarterback.
Key Facts
The Panthers picked up Bryce Young’s fifth-year contract option.
This contract extension is not a full endorsement but a way to test his future potential.
If Young plays well in 2026, he could be one of the cheaper starting quarterbacks by 2027.
Young’s rookie season was very difficult, but he has improved since then.
Despite improvement, his statistics still rank low compared to other quarterbacks.
Questions remain about his size and skills as a passer.
The 2026 season is important for Young to prove he can be the team’s long-term quarterback.
The Panthers do not expect Young to be an MVP immediately but want to see consistent progress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
College athletes have received different types of compensation for many years, from cash and train tickets to scholarships and more recently name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments. Legal changes and court cases have led to new rules that allow athletes to earn money while still in college, changing the way college sports handle athlete compensation.
Key Facts
The NCAA was created in 1906 to reduce violence in football and set rules for college sports.
Early athletes often got cash, train tickets, tuition, and housing as payments to join schools.
In 1948, the NCAA introduced the Sanity Code to control recruiting offers, initially opposing athletic scholarships.
Scholarships became standardized in 1956, aiming to reduce illegal perks but did not eliminate them.
In 2014, Ed O’Bannon won a lawsuit that pushed the NCAA to allow athletes to get a stipend for living costs.
A recent legal settlement lets schools share up to $21.3 million yearly with athletes, plus NIL deals with third parties.
Some college football teams now have player payrolls exceeding $50 million due to NIL income.
A Senate bill may double the salary cap to nearly $49 million per school to regulate athlete payments better.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The University of Tennessee held a special event to help football players create content for advertising deals related to their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. The event involved 29 brands and about 50 players, who recorded commercials and took photos to promote various companies.
Key Facts
NIL allows college athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness.
The University of Tennessee hosted a media day to produce ads and commercials for athletes’ NIL deals.
Around 50 football players took part in the event.
29 different brands participated, including Uber Eats, Pilot, and Food City grocery store.
The event featured photo shoots, video recordings, and interviews in several specialized rooms.
Learfield, a company that works with many schools on multimedia and sponsorships, helped organize the event.
The media day made it easier for athletes and companies to produce promotional materials.
Props like chicken tenders and bags of potato chips were used during the shoots to create authentic ads.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Mansoor Delane, a rookie cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, has impressed head coach Andy Reid during training camp with his aggressive play. The Chiefs expect Delane, their first-round draft pick, to take a starting role in the upcoming season.
Key Facts
The Chiefs selected Mansoor Delane sixth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Delane played college football at LSU and earned All-American honors in 2025.
He is competing strongly in practice against top Chiefs receivers.
Coach Andy Reid has asked Delane to moderate his aggressive style slightly during man-to-man coverage.
Delane is expected to start opposite cornerback L’Jarius Sneed this season.
The Chiefs released several veteran defensive backs before the 2026 season.
Delane will likely make his preseason debut in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He has been compared to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, a top young player in the NFL.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Bo Nix will play in the Denver Broncos' preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. This will be his first game since he hurt his ankle last season. Nix said he is excited to play and plans to give his best effort during the game.
Key Facts
Bo Nix is a player for the Denver Broncos football team.
He injured his right ankle in a playoff game against the Buffalo Bills last year.
The preseason game is on Friday at Mile High Stadium.
Head coach Sean Payton confirmed Nix will play.
Nix said he feels excited to play at home and see fans.
He plans to play hard, as if it were a real game.
The game starts at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A 47-year-old father of three joined the San Jose City College football team this year. Despite the physical challenges, he enjoys playing and the experience of being part of the team.
Key Facts
The man is 47 years old.
He is a father of three children.
He joined the football team at San Jose City College.
Playing football at his age is physically tough for him.
He finds joy and satisfaction in playing the game.
He shared his experience in an interview with CBS News.
The story highlights participation and passion for sports regardless of age.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Major League Baseball players were asked to choose the National League MVP between Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Most players chose Crow-Armstrong, who has strong defense and solid offense, over Ohtani, who has been pitching less this season but remains a powerful hitter.
Key Facts
21 MLB players voted on the NL MVP race between Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani.
15 players picked Crow-Armstrong as the MVP, 4 picked Ohtani, and 2 chose to share the honor.
Shohei Ohtani is a two-way player with a .949 OPS (hitting score) and a 1.79 ERA (pitching score) but hasn’t pitched since July 3.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has 31 home runs, 31 stolen bases, and is known for excellent defense in center field.
Crow-Armstrong leads all position players with 24 outs above average, a measure of defensive skill.
Some players favored Crow-Armstrong because he plays every day, while Ohtani is currently only a designated hitter.
Ohtani’s strong pitching performance earlier in the year makes some still consider him the greatest player.
Crow-Armstrong recently became the favorite to win MVP on a popular sports betting site.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Celtic won 3-0 against LASK in a Champions League play-off, with Camilo Duran scoring two goals. The team showed strong attacking play and hopes to return to the top European competition after many years.
Key Facts
Celtic defeated LASK with a score of 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League play-off.
Camilo Duran scored two goals, including a notable second goal.
Benjamin Nygren also contributed with goals and assists, scoring his fourth goal of the season.
The match showed Celtic's improving style and ambition in European football.
LASK, the Austrian champions, created many chances but could not score.
Celtic's defense needs improvement, but they are in a strong position going into the second leg.
This victory is significant as Celtic has won only 10 of their previous 50 European games.
Young players like Colby Donovan impressed with enthusiasm and effectiveness during the game.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ticket prices for the 2026 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York have increased significantly, with resale tickets costing much more than last year. Grounds pass tickets, which allow entry to most courts except the main stadium, are selling for over $190 on resale markets, higher than other Grand Slam events.
Key Facts
The U.S. Open is one of tennis' four biggest tournaments, held annually in Queens, New York.
The 2026 tournament will run from August 25 to September 13, with qualifying starting August 23.
Grounds pass resale tickets for August 30 are priced between $191 and $344, averaging $246, a slight increase from last year.
Average ticket prices to enter the tournament are about $292, up from $256 a year ago.
Grounds passes at other Grand Slam events like Roland-Garros and Wimbledon cost about $45, much less than the U.S. Open.
Tickets to the U.S. Open often sell out quickly, especially on the first day when face value is $65.
Sports economist Victor Matheson explains U.S. sports event prices are generally higher than in other countries.
The official player list for the 2026 U.S. Open will be announced on August 20.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
